By Joy Odor
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu mentioned that 593 out of the 2,822 Polling Units in Federal Capital Territory do have voters for the Area Council elections 26 days away.
Prof. Yakubu, who disclosed this at the first regular quarterly meeting with Political Parties in Abuja on Tuesday, said this is because voters failed to take advantage of the expansion of access to transfer to the new Polling Units.
He draw the attention of the distribution of voters to Polling Units in the FCT, and emphasized that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed in the FCT elections which is the second major election after the Anambra Governorship election held in November last year.
The lNEC Chairman opined that the 68 constituencies in the FCT (six Chairmen and 62 Councillors) covering extensive urban and rural locations sharing border with five States in the North Central and North Western parts of the country is another opportunity to pilot the efficacy of the BVAS in a different geographical, geo-political and electoral context.
“The same technology will be deployed in all forthcoming bye-elections across the country. For all elections going forward, Polling Unit results will be uploaded in real-time to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal”, Yakubu noted.
While speaking on the major end-of-tenure and off-cycle elections and party primaries for the Ekiti State Governorship and the Osun State Governorship election, Prof Mahmood urged parties to ensure transparent and rancour-free primaries, and to also respect their chosen dates for the primaries based on the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities.
“Already, many parties have rescheduled their primaries several times. In fact, seven political parties have chosen the last day for their primaries.
Similarly, no party has so far submitted its list of aspirants, the composition of its electoral panel, or the register of members or list of delegates depending on the chosen mode for electing its candidates.
“As at yesterday, only one party has indicated the venue for its primaries. I urge you all to do so immediately to enable us to work out the detailed plans for monitoring the primaries
“All primaries for electing candidates must take place in the constituency where the election will be held as required by law. In the cases of Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections, any primaries conducted outside the two States will not be monitored by the Commission and their outcomes will not be accepted. This also applies to primaries for bye-elections conducted outside the constituencies”, he said.
He therefore explained that 2022 is going to be a very busy year for the Commission and the political parties, saying with the 2023 General Election just 396 days away, all the critical preparations must be concluded this year.
Speaking on the Electroal Act Bill, the lNEC Chairman disclosed that as soon as the Bill is signed into law, the Commission will quickly release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election based on the new law.
He called for the speedy passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which it said, is crucial to its preparations for future elections.
Professor Yakubu said the Commission is encouraged by the Senate President’s assurance to give priority attention to the Bill when the National Assembly reconvenes from its recess today, and the commitment by President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Bill as soon as the issue of mode of primaries by political parties is resolved.
In his remark, the National Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Engrineer Yabagi Sani demanded for the immediate resolution of the unnecessary impasse over the Electoral Amendment Bill in the superior and overriding national interest.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Bill without delay, noting that the most serious and potent impediment to the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections, is the lingering debacle between the Executive and the Legislature on the fate of the 2021 Electoral (Amendment) Bill.
